Students 'not impressed' after meeting with FNUniv board chairman Clarence Bellegarde

REGINA — Students at the First Nations University of Canada are tired of waiting and want to know what’s happening to their university.

The meeting was held in response to provide students with some answers after a lawsuit filed by the former chief financial officer of FNUniv, Murray Westerlund. He alleges he was fired after presenting documents to FNUniv's audit committee outlining alleged misuse of funds and inappropriate expense claims.

On Friday, about 70 students gathered into a boardroom at the university and met with Chief Clarence Bellegarde, chair of the FNUniv Board of Governors, while FNUniv students from the Saskatoon and Prince Albert campuses were invited to participate via video conference.

“We were not impressed,” said Cadmus Delorme, vice-president of communications for the FNUniv Student Association (FNUniv-SA) after the meeting with Bellegarde. “He gave us half an hour. He gave us a time limit— like we’re not very important.”

He said the students are not going to back down and plan on taking a strong stance.

“We don’t want to lose our institution,” said Delorme. “It’s time to get politics out of our education — it’s time.”

The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) is hosting its annual winter assembly in Saskatoon next week and Delorme said the students have been invited by FSIN Chief Guy Lonechild to attend.

“He gave us a spot to speak with the chiefs at the assembly,” he said.

Delorme said Bellegarde did answer some of the students questions, but “danced around half of them.”

Many students left the meeting unsatisfied.

Like Jesse Robson, who had hoped senior administration would be in attendance, because that’s what was stated in a memo sent to students.

“I came out of the meeting feeling deceived by the executive branch of the school,” said Robson. “It’s almost seemed like another step of their deception, to buy them another couple of days. They were like, ‘Don’t worry we will meet with you, then they don’t.’ That was one of the first things I addressed when I had the chance.”

He left the meeting feeling undervalued as a student and unsupported by First Nation leaders.

“We were only give half an hour and that’s not enough time — I’m sorry,” said Shawna McNab.

She attended the meeting hoping to get answers about allegation of mispending.

“As a student of this university, I love this place,” said McNab. “I moved from Saskatoon to attend school here. I plan to receive my degree in education here.”

She plans to support whatever student action is taken.

Diane Adams, president of the FNUniv-SA, said she’s angry and wants answers.

“Today’s meeting was a huge disappointment and really upset a lot of students,” she said. “We were told to be patient, to wait, to wait, to wait. We all know that, especially from (Minister) Rob Norris, that it’s time for change.”

She said the wait is over and the students are going to fight to keep the doors to the university open.

“We have to take action,” said Adams. “We have to go to that assembly and ask the FSIN to disolve the board and suspend senior management and put us under the governance of the (University of Regina) until we can implement the board changes in the Manley Begay report.”

After meeting with students, Bellegarde read a prepared statement to members of the media.

“As a policy, we’re not going to respond to allegations or speculations of what might happen,” he read.

Bellegarde added, “I want to assure our students and our stakeholders that any allegations, substantiated or not, are taken very seriously by the executive and by the board of governors.”

He said Myers Norris and Penny, an external auditing firm, is reviewing the allegations made by former the FNUniv finance consultant.

“Once that audit review is completed, we will follow proper and due process and release that information and act on any recommendations,” said Bellegarde. “In response to comments made by both levels of government and the FSIN, I can only say that their comments are unfortunate and in the board of governors’ view, premature.”

Bellegarde remained tight-lipped once he completed reading from a three-page document and did not answer any questions from the media.

For the sixth straight day, both Lonechild and Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl refused interview requests.

Lonechild met Advanced Education Minister Rob Norris Friday. Strahl also had a “constructive” phone conversation with Norris on the issue this week, said a spokesperson for Strahl’s office, who e-mailed the following written remarks Friday afternoon to the Star Phoenix.

"Minister Strahl is aware of the statements made by the Government of Saskatchewan regarding their provincial funding for the First Nations University of Canada. He is concerned about the impact of this situation on students and wants to ensure their academic goals do not suffer, however at this time, because this issue is currently between the school and the province it would be premature to speculate as to what will or will not happen." 

With files from Jason Warick, StarPhoenix.

kbenjoe@leaderpost.canwest.com